Learn the ins and outs of SCUBA diving from instructors with more than 100 years of combined teaching experience. Courses are taught at the Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center, a premier instructional facility.

 

A woman and a man with scuba gear in a pool.

Scuba Classes

The CRC brings you SCUBA. Begin diving with our PADI SCUBA 1 course, take a quick refresher, or even become a rescue diver. Detailed course information, dates offered and fees:

Open Water 1 Skills Check

  • Before registering for an Open Water 1 class (the next class is OW1E) please sign up to complete a skills’ check on one of the following days:
    • April 3rd
    • April 8th
    • April 17th
    • April 23rd
  • This does not cost anything but prior to signing up for the class (and potentially needing to drop if prerequisite skills cannot be met), this helps avoid cancellations and allows those ready with the necessary skills to get enrolled in the class.
  • Prerequisite skill checks registration will open Monday, April 1st at 1:00pm
  • Sign Up for Pre-Reqs Here!

 

Prerequisite Skills include:

  • Swim underwater on one breath, at least 25 feet initially; (with the goal of swimming 25 yards/meters by the end of the course).
  • Swim continuously on the surface, without swimming aids, at least 100 yards/meters, and 200 yards/meters by the end of course; and,
  • Actively tread water for at least 5 minutes initially; 10 minutes by the end of the course (and you’ll be asked to hold your hands out of the water the last 2 minutes).
scuba group picture

Scuba Trip

The mission of the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation SCUBA program, in partnership with the Division of Student Life is to Educate and Inspire Environmental and Multicultural Awareness through our training and certification program.

Dates: Sat, March 16 - Sat, March 23, 2024

Trip Location: Cozumel, Mexico

Info Doc: --> SCUBA Spring Break Info Doc

Registration Link: --> SCUBA Spring Break Trip Registration Link

Info Sessions: Mon, 11/13 or Tue 11/14/23 from 6p-7p | CRC Room 134

Trip Leaders:

Scott Peters

  • PADI Master SCUBA Instructor (Instructor since 1984)
  • 13 yrs instructing at Georgia Tech (since 2010)
  • Dived on 12 trips to Cozumel, Mexico
  • GT SCUBA SB Trip Cozumel Lead Instructor 2011
  • Certified approx 2500 participants in career
  • Conducts Specialty Certs at the Georgia Aquarium (Manta Ray Specialty & Whale Shark Specialty)

Patrick McCrary

  • 10 yrs instructing at Georgia Tech (since 2013)
  • 50 yrs of diving experience; (1000+ dives)
  • Volunteer diver for Georgia Aquarium for 9 years
  • Certified hundreds of divers at Georgia Tech & Georgia Aquarium
  • DAN (Divers Alert Network) First Aid Instructor, DFA Pro (Diving First Aid for Professional Divers) Instructor
  • Studied at Duke University Marine Laboratory
  • Studied at Dauphin Island Marine Laboratory
  • "There is absolutely nothing more gratifying, fulfilling, and humbling, than seeing joy in the face of a student who has taken his or her first breath on scuba. I really live for that."

Debbie Dorsey

  • GT SCUBA Trip Leader 14 trips, 5 countries
  • Certified diver 40 yrs (1000+ dives)
  • Certified PADI Assistant Instructor 39 yrs (since 1984)
  • Sector Coordinator for 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics (Luge, Ski Jump, Bobsled, Skeleton)
  • Leader for Risk Management/Operations for 1996 Atlanta Olympics for GT Aquatic Center